Garmin Nuvi 860 review

TomTom's satnavs aren't alone in providing voice recognition.

Garmin has had a more extensive implementation for most of 2008. The Nuvi 800 series, represented here by the 860, offers verbal control of most functions. Garmin fully intends you to be able to use this while driving.

To this end, there's a remote control in the box with a built-in strap, so you can connect it to a convenient point on your steering wheel. The remote has just two buttons. The big one enables voice recognition and the smaller one turns it off again. You can enter commands as they appear onscreen, such as Where to? for entering a new destination. In general, we found Garmin's voice command recognition a little more reliable than TomTom's. You can't enter an address by postcode, but it's a polished system nonetheless.

You get full European maps and safety cameras preloaded. Although the 860 doesn't have a T in its name, it still has a built-in TMC receiver. The aerial is built into the power cable, as with the 765T. This then routes round your windscreen and plugs into the screen cradle. Docking the 860 into its cradle is all that's required when you get in the car, unless you don't want to leave the windscreen mount visible when you leave the car.

There are plenty of extras, too, including audio playback, with support for MP3s and Audible talking books. There's also a photo viewer with slideshow capabilities, a calculator, currency and unit converters, a world clock and alarm clock. A sampler of Garmin's language guide is provided and you even get a selection of games, such as Sudoku and Space Invaders.

With a similar price to TomTom's Go 740 Live, Garmin's Nuvi 860 has some tough competition. However, although the remote-controlled voice recognition is just about the best implementation we've seen, TomTom's Live system will prove more useful for most frequent travellers, despite its monthly cost.